Paul Turner’s Blog

Q:  I have a question about the altar cloth. Our parish’s practice has been to have the wooden altar bare […]

Q. In the marriage rite, the revised translation still has the couple say “I take you” but the word in

Q:  In the election of the candidates in the ordination rite, what is the Latin word that is translated as

Q:  I have a question: the new psalm translations.  I take it they will be coming out soon.  I hope

Q:  At the Easter Vigil, since now all the lights in the church are turned on at the close of

Q:  For readers approaching the sanctuary in order to go to the ambo:  They have already given either a profound

Q:  Recently we hosted a funeral celebrated by a priest from another diocese.  Our music director volunteered to provide the

Q:  What do you recommend re: concelebrants at weddings? I would say that the presider does all… but, analogous to

Q:  At a recent meeting of people involved in the music ministry in our parish, the issue of singing the

Q:  A few weeks ago our teachers asked me to review the various liturgical roles the students have during the

Q:  At a recent meeting of people involved in the music ministry in our parish, the issue of singing the

Q:  At a recent meeting of people involved in the music ministry in our parish, the issue of singing the

  Q: In the baptism of an infant, at the time of doing the sign of the Cross on the

Q:  In our baptismal record, a number of entries mention baptism of children above the age of reason with a

  Q:  Should altar candles be lighted for other liturgical services besides mass? A:  Probably. GIRM 307 says: “The candlesticks

Q:  Our diocese will be moving toward Restored Order within the next three years. That means that our children will

Q. Is it obligatory to light six candles for a Sunday mass? A. No, but the sense of the law

Q: I see several references to the 2014 CARA study regarding RCIA. I however cannot find a copy of it on

Q:  I’ve been reading your excellent book, One Love, on the Order of Celebrating Matrimony. As always balanced, nuanced and

  Q:  I have a query regarding the Rite of Acceptance. Could you give a reason for why a parish

Q:  What wording could be used for a “Profession of Faith” Certificate for children under the age of reason whose

Q:  I understand that the permission to use a reading from the marriage lectionary applies not only to weddings celebrated

Q:  I just finished reading your One Love: A Pastoral Guide to the Order of Celebrating Marriage – excellent! A

Q:  When is Mother Teresa’s feast day? Do you have a text of the Collect? A:  No official word yet

Q:  What IS the preferred “cross” for Good Friday veneration?  A cross or crucifix ?  I see the pope uses

Q:  When Holy Family falls on a weekday instead of a Sunday, as it will this year on Friday, December

  Q:  Are funeral Masses considered to be a community Mass or a private Mass? The concern being whether Eucharistic

Q:  Please look over the attached order of service and let me know if it would work for a layperson

Q:  When a deacon presides for a Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest, may he use the presider’s

Q:  Greetings Paul. I hope that all is well with you. We here down under are somewhat bemused/amused by the

  Q:  When Mass is occurring in the church, are other events (meetings, etc) allowed to occur in the building?

Q: How will the use of masculine pronouns and words to refer to collective human beings be handled in the

  Q:  I wonder if you have knowledge (or even input into) about the pending revision to the Liturgy of

Q:  In the Liturgy of the Hours there are a couple of saints’ feasts or “memorials” that have a very

Q:  What are some Scriptural references that earmark the beginnings of our RCIA process? A:  Well, according to this book http://www.ltp.org/p-817-the-hallelujah-highway-a-history-of-the-catechumenate.aspx,

Q:  It’s been a while since I taught about Prayers of the Faithful. What is the sequence? First For the

Q:  Is it necessary to make the sign of the cross after receiving communion? A:  No. It’s very common, but

Q:  A reader sent me a question about receiving Orthodox Christians, which sent me to your book. And I’m still

Q:  Since the Missal speaks of “instituted acolytes” what defines an instituted acolyte and can we institute our sacristans? Is

  Q:  My Bishop is currently reviewing the order of celebrating the Sacraments of initiation and is seeking to return

Q:  Since the Missal speaks of “instituted acolytes” what defines an instituted acolyte and can we institute our sacristans? Is

Q:  Are there rubrics on purifying altar linens that have consecrated remnants on them? Is machine wash allowed? A:  The

Q:  Is it okay for a sacristan (lay person) to retrieve the hosts from the tabernacle at communion—or does it

Q:  When a deacon presides for a Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest, may he use the presider’s

Q:  When a baptism is taking place outside Mass, do the prayers of the faithful have to be used from

Q:  When a baptism is taking place outside Mass, the Rite for Baptism with Children (no. 81) speaks of choices

Q:  What is the basis of the use of a “priest’s” chalice distinct from “communal chalices” used at Mass. It

Q:  May the priest mix the water with the wine in a large pitcher from which all the wine is

Q:  Our sacristans pour the unconsecrated wine into the communal chalices at the altar after the priest pours the wine

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Q: In our parish, there is Exposition Tues, Wed and Thursday from early morning till late evening.  We have many people

Q: Is there a limit to the number of times a parish can have the Eucharistic benediction in a day.

Q:  Following the Examination of Conscience at night prayer, and when using the Confiteor is it required or even permissible

Q:  Do you support the singing of the Alleluia as the people’s response at the end of the proclaimed Gospel?

Q:  What, if anything, is incorrect with this statement? “Our celebrant (presider) at this liturgy is Jesus Christ.” A:  Well,

Q:  Quería saber si las personas que nos pongan el lazo puede ser 2 mujeres? Mi mama y la abuela

Q:  Cardinal Robert Sarah recently encouraged priests to use the ad orientem Mass.  I think this was a mistake and

Q:  Can you help me with a critical commentary on the translation of the Glory to God (in the Introductory

Q:  Can you please confirm or deny: an RCIA minister in our diocese wants to know if the rite recommends

+  Confronting Extremist Violence, the Refugee Crisis, and Fear: Faith Responses +  Workshops – Convocation of Priests for the St.

Q: Our worship committee has used several of your books for study including Understanding the Revised Mass Texts and Let Us Pray.  I thought

Q:  May a person not commissioned in a parish or diocese to be a Special Minister of the Eucharist serve

Q:  Do you have an article that describes the correct way to conduct Holy Hour and/or Eucharistic Devotion? A:  Here’s

Q:  As I review the rubrics of the rite of blessing and sprinkling of water, why does the prayer over

Q:  The revised marriage rite is due out soon (and is to be use starting in Dec, I believe). I

Q:  I was under the impression that a Confirmation sponsor must be Catholic. I have a friend who was excited

Q:  I am familiar with the tradition of members of the faithful lining up to receive a “first blessing” from

Q:  Hypothetically (of course!), if the “bishop’s delegate” came to a parish for the sacrament of confirmation and said something

Q:  My parish has for many years had four or five readers read the first few verses of the first

Q:  Some of our parishes want to use the Litany of the Saints for Confirmation Liturgy.  Where exactly should this

Q:  In the Ritual for Confirmation under Section  II, 7-9, the Bishop may delegate specific priests to administer Confirmation.  OK,

Q.  When, if ever, is it appropriate, permitted, or required to have three readings at mass, outside of Sundays and

Q:  Good Friday Rubric #33 states: “After the celebration, the altar is stripped but the cross remains on the altar

Q:  I have a question concerning conditional baptism. I looked in your book for priests on Celebrating Initiation and The

Q:  I have a Holy Thursday question for you.   Right now we are experiencing freezing rain and one of

Q:  Can I hear confessions on the Easter Vigil ? Is it Liturgically or Canonically ok to do that? A:

  Q:  If the pastor and parishioners desire to locate the tabernacle in the worship space rather than a side

Q:  Holy Thursday, the tabernacle is to be empty at the beginning of Mass with the doors open and the

Q:  Is it proper to have lay parishioners read portions of the Gospel Passion?  If it is broken into a

Q:  Can I anoint with the oil of catechumens before the Easter Vigil? Like on Tuesday of Holy Week? A:

Q:  At my parish, it has been a tradition for them to break up the Passion narrative and have musical

  Q:  Is the signing of documents, i.e. Marriage license and church marriage certificate, allowed on the altar?  I understand

Q:  For Easter Sunday, should the Sprinkling Rite take place after the Renewal of Baptismal Promises which is after the

Q:  Can we add a petition to the Good Friday intercessions? A:  The diocesan bishop may authorize an additional Good

Q:  Is it a requirement that liturgical ministers, I.e. Lector, cantor, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion bow as they approach

Q. I’ve come across conflicting opinions as to the use of the Creed during weekday masses of the Easter Octave. Could

Q:  Our Parish covers our crucifix and statues on the Friday before the 5th Sunday of Lent following the Mass

Q:  I am your “student” by studying your liturgical books. I have read your liturgical books and learnt a lot

Q:  I was at a parish while visiting up north last weekend and the community was celebrating the Second Scrutiny

Q:  When a bishop celebrates mass, why does he remove his zucchetto at the beginning of the eucharistic prayer until

Q:  If I enter a church, and the tabernacle is not behind the altar but to the side, should I

Q:  Are the prayers of exorcism in the scrutinies the same as the minor exorcisms in the catechumenate stage? A:

Q:  It is the custom in our parish to expose the Blessed Sacrament before beginning Stations of the Cross.  After

Q:  Good Friday is the only day that we are not supposed to process in with the Crucifix, right?  Easter

Q. Today I got a call from a parish that would like to do the Rite of Reception into Full Communion

Q:  In a previous post in regards to having no baptisms at the Easter Vigil in a parish church you

Q:  Forgive me for continuing on this topic, I should have been more clear on my original question.   When you

Q:  Do you know whether RLDS aka Community of Christ baptisms are recognized as valid by the Catholic Church?  I

Q:  Is it mandatory to chant the Sanctus and Agnus Dei during Lent or Advent? Our music director does this

Q:  Is the pall required to cover the chalice? According to GIRM 118 (C ) it only says if appropriate.